Ball-grip.



M; A, BOLAND.

Patented Dec; 6, 1910. I

AW/Q 30702102 THE NORRIS Psrsns 4:0,, WASHINGTON, n. c.

MICHAEL A. ROLAND, OF BUFFALO, NEW YORK.

BALL- GRIP.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 6, 1916.

Application filed March 21, 1910. Serial No. 550,750.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, MICHAEL A. BOLAND, a citizen of the United States, residing at Buffalo, in the county of Erie and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Ball-Grips, of which the following is a specification.

This invention comprehends certain new and useful improvements in appliances for use by bowlers, and the invention relates particularly to devices for holding the ball when delivering the same upon the alley.

The invention has for its object a simple, durable and efiicient construction of ball grip which will materially assist the 'bowler in controlling the ball and which will not chip or otherwise injure the ball, and not be liable to be cast from the hand as the ball is released.

Vith this and other objects in View as will more fully appear as the description proceeds the invention consists in certain constructions, arrangements and combinations of the parts that I shall hereinafter fully describe and claim.

For a full understanding of the invention, reference is to be had to the following description and accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of my improved ball grip showing it applied; and, Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the device.

Corresponding and like parts are referred to in the following description and accompanying drawings by the same reference characters.

My improved ball grip for bowling comprises tongs, the members of which may be constructed in any desired way so far as their pivotal connection is concerned, but in the present instance being coiled upon themselves to form the eye through which the pivot bolt 2 passes whereby to pivotally connect the tong members together. The members 1 are extended outwardly from each other and are thence bent inwardly to form grip fingers designed to be inserted in the holes in the ball and preferably sheathed or covered with some soft material such as soft leather or the like as indicated at 3 so as to avoid chipping the ball. These sheaths or sleeves 3 may be secured to the lower ends of the members 1 in any desired way. Each member 1 is provided at its upper end with a laterally elongated loop, the loops c011- stituting finger-holds and being designated 4 and 5 respectively. The loop 5 extends laterally, preferably at both ends, beyond the 1pnds of the loop 4, as clearly illustrated in i 1.

'In t he practical use of my improved ball grip, the fingers of the players hand will inclose the two handles with the gripping fingers inserted in the holes of the ball, two fingers lying 011 each side of the shank which extends downwardly as illustrated in Fig. 1. The handle or loop 5 which is next to the players hand extends beyond the ends of the other loop and the players thumb is laid against one side extension as shown, so that when the fingers are opened to release the ball, the thumb pressing against the extension of the handle 5 that is next to the thumb, will hold the ball-grip, as the ball is delivered. The loop handle 5 is extended at both ends beyond the ends of the other loop 4 so as to adapt the device for both right-handed and lefthanded players.

It is to be understood that the ball grip members can be connected together with or without the use of ball bearings at the oint, and that the sheathings may be secured by rivets or any desired manner upon the ends of the members 1.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new is:

1. A ball grip embodying members pivotally connected together intermediate of their ends, sheathings on the corresponding ends of said members, and finger loops formed on the opposite ends of said members.

2. As a new article of manufacture, the herein described ball grip comprising members formed intermediate of their ends with loops, a pivot bolt extending through said loops, and sheathings secured in the corre sponding ends of said members, the other ends of said members being provided with finger loops.

3. As a new article of manufacture, the In testimony whereof I affix my signature lgerein destcrlifed ball gricp, embodying memin presence of two Witnesses.

ers plvo a y connecte toget 161 intermediate of their ends and laterally extending MICHAEL BOLAND' 5 handles formed on said members at one end, lViltnesses one handle being extended laterally beyond \VILLIAM J BOLAND, the other handle for the purpose specified. THOMAS ARMSTRONG. 

